Third Grade Performance and the Space Shield Tile

The Third Grade Performance was a lot of fun and a learning experience for us all.   We also acknowledged Ms. German who donated the Space Shield Tile to Allen School.  Thank you for the gift and support.

Allen gets in the GROOVE

Groove - a high energy percussion group from the University of Michigan -
visited Allen Elementary School on Friday.  Based on a percussion
foundation, Groove's instruments include paint-bucket drums, construction
barrel drums, propane tank steel drums, trash can drums, and much more.
Their assembly introduced students to how they think of new instrument
ideas, how they compose songs, and how fun and easy it can be.  What fun!!

MultiCultural Potluck 2011

What a success!   Thanks to everyone who was able to attend the MultiCultural Potluck and the evening Book Fair last night.   Thank you to the several volunteers who helped organize this wonderful event.   The Chinese Dancers were outstanding and the food was delicious.  Here are a few photos:

Barnyard Moosical

 The first grade was awesome in their Performance on Tuesday!   The stage was full of Chickens, Pigs, and Cows!!   Here are a few photos from the performance.  Nice job first grade!!    Ms. Fitz

Eating in the Round

Thank you Parent Council for purchasing four round tables for the Allen cafeteria.

We started using them yesterday and the kids are thrilled.   Now you might be asking why would we want round tables?  Well,  round tables provide students with the opportunity to have their own dedicated seat, the ability to talk to many more friends and not have to talk over anyone, and most importantly the volume level is reduced due to the change in structure.    So Thank You!!   we will rotate students through the use of the tables in two week rotations as we only have enough for one class at a time for each lunch period. Here are some photos of the new arrangement.

And here is a picture of the the original tables.

Disability Awareness Workshop

Friday the fourth grade students participated in our 6th annual Disability Awareness Workshop.  Thanks to Karen Meints and several volunteers the day was again a huge success.   Please click on the wonderful AA news article for pictures and more details.  Thank you everyone for providing this educational day for our students.    Joan

http://annarbor.com/neighborhoods/central-ann-arbor/allen-students-learn-respect-for-others-at-disability-awareness-workshop/

Chinese New Year

Tomorrow is the Chinese New Year!  Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese  holidays!  This year is the year of the Rabbit.  Our students will enjoy a powerpoint presentation tomorrow which was created by some of our students.  We also have our front showcase and hallway decorated with various Chinese paintings and artifacts.  I hope you will ask your child to tell you what they learned about Chinese New Year.  Here are a few facts from the powerpoint.

Some activities include:

• Dragon dance parade; lantern festival; new year TV gala show; visiting friends and relatives

Some of the traditional food includes:

• Jiaozi (dumpling), Niangao (sticky rice), fish, meats, sweets.

Some of the decorations include:

• Red color brings luck, fortune, and wealth. Paper cuttings, lanterns, and couplets.